Can I Use My Southwest Companion Pass for My Dog?
"Reader Questions" are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.
It might not be as easy as it used to be to get a Southwest Companion Pass, but it's still possible, and TPG reader Ben wants to know if he can use one for his furry friend...
[pullquote source="TPG Reader Ben"]This question is somewhat silly, but can you use a Southwest Companion Pass on a dog?[/pullquote]
First of all, let's clear up something right off the bat — this is not a silly question as far as I'm concerned. Man's (and woman's) best friend should absolutely be Companion Pass-eligible in my opinion, and if they happen to also slobber on the in-flight peanuts, then that's just part of how h*ckin' awesome they are. Besides, I have human friends who slobber on the peanuts as well.
Of course, if your dog is an emotional support animal — and we're not going to get into the controversial question of emotional support animals here today — then there's no charge to bring them into the cabin in any case. But what if they're not? If you're not able to add your dog to your Companion Pass, how much can you expect to pay for an in-cabin pet?
As you might expect, it differs depending on the airline, but here's a list of the basic in-cabin pet fees for domestic travel on most major US carriers:
| Airline | in-cabin kennel FEE | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
$100 | Pets allowed in the passenger cabin are dogs, cats, rabbits and household birds. | |
$125 | With the exception of a few breed restrictions, you can only travel with cats and dogs. | |
$125 | Dogs, cats, household birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, and marmots. Yes, marmots. | |
$35 for travel within the state of Hawaii
$175 for travel from Hawaii to North America | Permitted only on inter-island flights and flights leaving the state of Hawaii. Not allowed on flights arriving into the state of Hawaii due to quarantine requirements, with exceptions made for service animals. | |
$100 | You'll earn 300 TrueBlue points on each flight segment when traveling with your pet. | |
$95 | Cats and dogs only. Unlike many other Southwest charges, the pet fee is non-refundable. | |
$125 | Domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds (excluding cockatoos) can travel accompanied in the aircraft cabin. | |
$100 | Cats, dogs, household birds and domesticated rabbits are accepted in the main cabin. |
There are many more details and some additional restrictions on in-cabin pets, so if you'd like to read more extensively about bringing your pet either on an airline or to a hotel, check out our post on Tips for Traveling With Pets: Airline and Hotel Policy Roundup.
But what about Ben's original question — can a dog be a free Southwest Companion? Well, when I called to inquire on this topic, I was informed by a friendly yet firm Southwest customer service agent that neither doggos nor puppers can be named as companions on the Companion Pass.
So even though they're good dogs, Brent, it would seem they'll need to pay to fly. Thanks for the question, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.